Apparatus for removing ballast from below railroad track rails



Feb. 16, 1954 K FOX ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BELOW RAILROAD TRACK RAILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1948 Feb. 16, 1954 J. M. Fox ETAL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BELOW RAILROAD TRACK RAILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1948 J. M. Fox E-rAL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM Feb. 16, 1954 BELOW RAILROAD TRACK RAILS Filed May l, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE YS.

Feb. 16, 1954 J. M. Fox ET AI., 2,669,041 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAS1` FROM BELOW RAILROAD TRACK RAILS Filed May 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TUr 20%@ J9 im' i9 Z0 WITNESSES INVENTORS:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16;; 1354 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST l FROM BELOW RAILROAD TRACK RAILS Joseph Mickle Fox, Haverford, and Clarence .lohn Reigh, Altoona, Pa.

Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,468

14 claims. 1

Our invention has general reference to means for removing materials such as broken stone, cinder, slag, gravel or dirt comprising the ballast in track, rfrom below ther rails between the ties of railroad tracks in order to provide a cleared space under the base of rails and below the surface of the ties. This cleared space is desirable when removing ties, and also prior to adzeing of the ties by hand or machine to provide proper bearing for tie plates when renewing rail or gauging the track, in order that the adze blades or bits may not strike the ballast. In electrical signal territory the elimination of any contact between the ballast and tie plates or rails improves the track circuits, as will be further explained. The clearing of space under the rails makes it possible to insert or reave a chain, belt, or cable in the cribs between ties and under the rails as found desirable.

Means of the kind above referred to are now more commonly known as kicking apparatus or machines that serve to initially kick out that portion of the ballast from the crib which directly underlies the track rails.

A` primary object of our invention is to provide an improved kicker unit which is extremely effective in use and easily controlled by a single operator.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine, as deiined in the preceding paragraph y that is self-propelled and may be transported in either direction. f

A further object is to provide a machine of the species above indicated inwhich the ballast removing or adzeing devices are extensible so as to gradually increase the depth of the ballast removed thereby from below the track rails.

A still further object is to providea kicker or ballast-removing machine that is comparatively simple and cheap to manufacture and which is much lighter in weight than similar means heretofore available.

While the foregoing denitions are indicative, in a general way, of the aims'of our invention, other objects with ancillary advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and operation of the means hereinafter disclosed; but it will also be appreciated that said invention is susceptible of other embodiment or ,structurally modiiied forms `coming equally within the terms and scope of the claims. In the accompanying drawings:A Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical form'ofv our improved ballast removing apparatus kor" kicker machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking down from above the preceding ligure with the kicker or ballast releasing and impelling blades in active location and unlocked.

Fig. 3 is a similar View to the preceding with the kickers in inactive location and locked against movement.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking from the right toward the left hand of Figs. 2 and 3, with fragmentary portions broken out to better illustrate an otherwise partially hidden portion of one of the kicker devices; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan section, of a recoil means drawn to a larger scale and hereinafter fully explained.

In describing the form of this invention, exemplied by the drawings herewith, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analagous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the machine typied comprises a carrier or truck, comprehensively designated l in Figs. 2 4 only, mounted on flanged wheels 2, 2, and capable of progression along the track rails 3 by means of an appropriate driving connection from a suitable air-cooled motor, for example only, indicated by the dot-and-dash rectangle Il in Fig. l such means being well known and needing no further illustration or explanation herein.

The carrier or truck I conveniently consists of a rectangular frame 5 which is provided with appropriate stub axles 6 for the forward track wheels 2, whereas the rear track wheels 2 are mounted on a drive shaft 'l journaled in bearings 8 Figs. 2 and 3, dependent from the bottom of the rearmost component of the rectangular frame 5. The drive shaft l is preferably under operative control of the motor and an appropriate reversing mechanism, such as a frictiongear power-transmission 9, in turn shiitable, as required, by an actuator rod l@ with an associated pair of foot pedals l l, l2.

The frame 5 has rigidly mounted thereon, in vertical alignment with the respective rails 3--3 suitable brackets I3 each affording pivotal bearing at I4 for an oscillatable ballast kicker device l5 that is adapted to swing transversely relative to the associated rail 3. The device i5 is in the form of a channel section arm for telescopicV guidance therein of a slide I@ having rigidly secured to its lower end, at il, an arcuate adze-like blade or striker element I8 conveniently of rectangular formation in plan, for dislodging the ballast in each crib I9 below the the rails 3-3 between adjacent ties 20, Fig. 4, and displace said ballast outwardly to the track shoulder from beneath said rails 3-3. The kicker devices I5 and striker elements I8 are made right and left hand for simultaneous operation in opposed directions to eject the ballast from the crib I9 outwardly, as hereinafter set forth.

Each oscillatable kicker device i conveniently has secured or integrated to the outer face of its web portion a sector-shaped member or disk plate 2I carrying la projecting stud 22. 4This sector-shaped member or disk platev 2`-I includes a radial slot 23 preferably extending inwards from its upper perimetric edge toward the top of the kicker bearing bracket I3; said slot23 is disposed to the rear and centrally of the upperY portion of the hammer means It carrying the blade I8. The hammer means It is further provided with an aperture 24 therethrough for reception of the'rounded endV 25 of one arm 2tv 'of a bell-crank pivoted at 2l', Fig. li, to a laterally I'Jro'jectingflange 28` from the disc-plate 21| and, whereby said hammer element It and blade I8 areY rendered adjustable orv telescopic relative to the oscillatabl'e device I5. The other or downwardly inclined bell-crank arm 29 is engaged' in agroove or recess 30 of an operating clutchv or sleeve 312' that4 is circumferentially grooved at 32 for reception' of opposed `pins 33 in the forked end Sil of av second bell-crank 35, l, fulcrumed by a vertical pivot 36 to a stationary bracket 3-1, so as to be movable horizontally in shifting the sleeve 3l onV its bearingl shaft 38. This shaft 3S is oscillatably mounted at its 'ends in the upstanding arms ofspaced angle brackets f3?, Figs. 1 4-, rigid with ab'ase-plate I integrated acr'oss the frame 5 aforesaid. At this junctureV it isi-to be noted that similar means to that just described is provided on the frame 5 above'l both track rails -3-3 save for the necessary right and left-hand reversals. The shorter arms l2 of the sleeve-shifting bell-cranks 35l are pivotally coupledtogether by a connecting rod 43 which lis integrated; near one end, to a laterally projecting lug 4d that is iulcrun'ledV at 45 to apistonrod M5 havinga head 4"!l at its other end eng-aged inv a cylindricalhousing l-B, with ari/associated coil-spring de, under compression, therein, see lig.r 5- to',I bestjadvantage. rIhe fright'han'dl end of the housing 43', rasviewed Yin Fig. I is linked at 5I) toananchorage 5i on a fixedvplate 5l extending icrosswise of the machine Vframe 5 at the center. Also attached to the lateralVV lug M, `and extending in a reverse direction to the pistonrod 4'6, isja coupler 52 pivotally' attachedat an' intermediate lpoint 53 to avhand' lever 54, in turn fulcrur'n'ed :at 55 to asuitable bearing bracket 56 rigidl with `the left hand base-plate 4I, Fig. l. Manual vmoverflent of the hand lever 54 in one direction' shifts 'the respective operating' sleeves 31 onv their `bearing shaft 33V in a manner to determine thedepth to which the kicker' or `hammer means' It operate, or as typically indicated by the dot-and-dash lines a in Fig. 2. As soon as the hand lever 54' is releasedV by the operator it will be readily understood vthat the coil spring` "49 reacts in its housing vcylinder llt to elevate the kicker hammer means IB and blade components I8jto the position shown' by full lines in Fig. 3. Y

YIn order that each ballast kicker 'device l5 may perform `its intended purpose it must have imparted thereto a swinging or oscillatory'niovement, and, to this end, we make use ofthe means now to be described. Thisy means, see Fig. 5 lto best advantage, comprises bearings 58 upstanding from plate 51 for a rock shaft 59 having projection at its ends outwardly beyond said bearings 58. Concentric with the shaft 59 is a coil spring B0 in a tubular housing 6i said spring 60 having one end secured to the shaft 59 at 32 while the other end thereof extends through a hole 63 in the housing and is attachedto a stationary lug 64 rigid with the adjoining bearing 58 and/or the housing 6I. To one end of the shaft 59, the upper in Fig. 5 for example, is rigidly securedva double-armed lever 65, having at the respective ends stationary pins (it, each affording pivotal connections for the eyed end of a coupler 6-1, the other end whereof is similarly attached to the hereinbefore mentioned projecting studL 22 on the associated sector-shaped disc plate 2|, of the respective kicker devices I5; while the-power that rocks said devices in both directions is transmitted by said rods 51, as hereinafter set forth.

The spring influenced rock-shaft has attached to its'end, remote from the lever @5, an arm including a .discous member Ell embodying a catch-tooth 69, to one side of said shaft 59, and an' actuator extensionV 'IE to the other side of such shaft; while said actuator extension I Il1 include's a ilanking projection 1I, at its free end, for engagement bya coactivey roller '2 on a disc i3, fast on av drive shaft 'M to the right of the bearing 58 in Figs. 2 and 3. This shaft Hl is conveniently rotatable through appropriate drive means 15v indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l, from the motor 4 to the power transmission 9, and from the latter to'shaft 'I4 byan endless connection 16. No-w it will be readily understood by those acquainted with the mechanical arts that, asl the shaft 'I4 rotates, the roller '.12 on the disc 'I3 will engage the flanking projection 'H on the actuator extension 10, of the spring-influenced rock-shaft 59, and wind-up the coil spring 69 until the parts just described reach a point, in their` respective paths' of travel, where they become disengaged. Such position is indicatedl in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Upon disengagement of roller 12 and anking projection 1I', coil vspring 6l) recoils, turning rock shaft 59 counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Kicker devices I5 are thereby thrust outwardly, projecting-v theballast outwardly from its initial position below the lrails 3`-3.

When the ballast has been kicked out of the crib I9 from immediately below the rails 3-3 tc the desirable depth, the operator of the machine grasps a hand lever 'I'Iv fulcrumed at 'It to a bracket I9 fasten Vthe left hand base-plate 4H of Figi. Coupled at to the hand lever 'Il is a rodl 8|, in turn pivotally connected at to a locking element or dogjfulcrumed at 86' to the adjacent basee'plate 51. The dog 83 embodies a tooth at its free end adapted to engage the catch toothg of the spring actuated disc 53 at a time when the kicker devices vI5 have been raised tothe normal retracted' position of Fig. 3, which enables the machine to be*v moved along the track rails 3-3 without fouling the ties 2G". Thel locking 'dog 83 must, obviously, be released by a reverse movement of the hand lever 'i1 after the kicker devices I5 vare brought over the next crib I9 to be cleared of ballast below therails 3 3.

It will be understood that progression of our improved ballast kicking machine 'along the track rails 3-3 in either? d ir'ectionriiay be conveniently Veffected bythe `foot pedals II, I2 through the mdium of sprocket gears '86', `81 'with a 'chain drive 88 from the output shaft 89 of the reversible power transmission 9 to the truck drive shaft 1, as schematically indicated by dotted and full lines in Figs. 2 and 3. y

Having described the structure of our improved ballast kicking machine as typically illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the operation thereof is as follows:

With the coil spring 60 wound up and the kickers I held in the elevated position clear of the ties and so locked as a consequence of kthe engagement of the tooth 85 with the tooth 69 of the discous member 68 as in Fig. 3, the carriage is propelled on the track until said kickers are positioned directly above the crib at whichthe ballast is to be removed from beneath the rails 3-3. All being now in readiness, the leverIl is swung to the right from the position shown in Fig. 3 tothe position shown in Fig. 2 to withdraw the tooth 85 from engagement with the tooth 69 ofthe discous member 58 and thereby release the kickers for operation. Kickers I5, thus released, are immediately swung outwardly under the iniluence of gravity and the coil spring 60, arriving at the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The transmission 9 is thereupon set to drive the shaft 'I4 for clockwise rotation'of the disk 13. At the beginning of each rotation of the disk 73, the roller I2 thereon engages the flanking projection 'II of the actuator extension 'I0 as shown in Fig. 2, thereby lifting the latter to turn the rock shaft 59 clockwise through a partial rotation, with consequent retraction of the kickers I5 as in Fig. 3 and re-winding of the coil spring 60. As the disk I3 continues in its rotation and the roller 'I2 passes beyond the inner end of the flanking projection 'II of the actuator extension 1G, the coil spring 60 will immediately react by virtue of the energy stored in it as above explained, to turn the rockl shaft 59 reversely or counterclockwise with the result that thekickers I5 will be suddenly swung outwardly about their pivots I4 and their blades I8 forcibly thrust beneath the track rails 3--3 as in Fig. 2, the motion being imparted thereto through the doublearmed lever 65 and the rods 61. In this way it will be seen that the 'ballast will be not only eiectively dislodged but displaced outwardly toward the shoulders of the track bed and there conned by baie shields '50 which are pivotally suspended from the frame 5 by hinges 9 I.

As the operation proceeds, the hand lever 54 is manipulated and the kickers I5 extended, that is to say, the slides I6 shifted downwardly progressively by motion imparted through bell crank road track rails 3-3, intermediate the ties '20, has a highly useful adjunctive feature in that when the ballast in the crib I9 gets fouled with finer material filling its interstices it becomes more or less conductive of electricity and, when damp, therefore short circuits the rails 3-3 when used for electrical signalling purposes. Hence by removing the damp ballast from under the rails 3 3, so that no material contact therewith exists, such short-circuiting trouble is effectively overcome.

Furthermore, while we have described our invention as adapted for removing ballast from below the track rails it is to be distinctly understood that the kicker devices I5 may be readily arranged for tamping-in ballast below the rails 3 or the ties 20. Accordingly, although the drawings and foregoing descriptive matter disclose the best means, which we have so far contemplated, embodying our improvements, we desire to be not limited to the details of such disclosure, inasmuch as in the further application of our invention many changes in form and construction may be made, as circumstances require orexperience suggest, without departing fromy the spirit of said invention, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for removing ballast from below track rails intermediate adjacent ties comprising a wheeled truck; means on the truck'supporting arms 26, 29, sleeves 3|, bell cranks 35, connecting rod 43 and coupler 52, with the result that the blades I8 will'be correspondingly depressed to remove the ballast from beneath the rails to the depth a in Fig. 2. Upon being released, the hand lever 54 and the parts controlled thereby will be automatically returned to the normal positions in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. 2 by action of the coil spring 49 (Fig. 5) upon the piston rod 46 connected tothe coupler 52. After the ballast has been removed from one crib in the manner described, the kickers are lifted clear of the track bed, whereupon the apparatus is shifted on the rails 3-3 to the next crib and the operation repeated.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the kicker devices I5 are simultaneously activated by the motor 4. `It is also to be particularly noted that our improved kicker mechanism for removing ballast from below railswingable kickers each including a telescopic adze-like member; mechanism on the truck operatively lcoordinating the kickers for simultaneous oscillation in opposed directions; means on the truck for maintaining the kickers elevated when said kickers are inactive; means on the trunk operative to oscillate the kickers; means on the truck to move the telescopic' members outwards to increase the depth of ballast removed; recoil means on the truck opposing the active swing of the kickers and effective to impart an initial impulse during the reverse swing of said kickers; and power means on the truck operative to impel the kicker adze-like members against the ballast below the track rails.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the power means further serves to actuate mechanism operative to propel the truck in either direction along the track rails.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the active swing of the kickers is outward below the track rails; and wherein dependent blinds are provided. at the sides of the truck, to prevent the ejected ballast being thrown beyond the side limits of the track.

4. The invention of claim l, further including means on the truck whereby the truck may be jogged across the crib intervening adjoining ties so as to clear the full width of said crib directly below the track rails.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the adzelike kicker members'are in the form of arcuate blades of rectangular outline and comparatively narrow width.

6. In apparatus for removing ballast from beneath track rails in the cribs between ties, a carriage shiftable along the track; ballast dislodging elements with arms supported on the carriage for swinging movement laterally thereof and having blade projections at their lower ends adapted to be thrust beneath the rails to dislodge the ballast; and mechanism including a rock shaft, means through which the dislodging elements are connected to Vthe-rock -shaft for actuation, acoiled spring surrounding. the rockl shaft with one end thereof secured to the shaft andthe other end anchored on the carriage, an arm affixed' to the shaft, and a rotary disk with a stud. thereon to engage a lateral projection at the end of the'arm during part of each revolution of thegdisktoA turn the rock shaft in one direction.for'retractionof the dislodging elements and at the same time to wind up the spring for ultimate release to tur-n theV rock shaft suddenly inthe opposite direction for impartation of forcible active kick impulses to the dislodging elements.

7. Ballast removing apparatus according to claim 6, further including amanually controllable latchv element `ior locking the dislodging elements against movement in a retracted position with the blade projections thereof elevated clear of the track bed when4 the apparatus is tobel moved along the track.

8. Ballast removing apparatusV according to claim 6, wherein the blade projections of the dislodging elements are connected to slides'shiftable lengthwise of the arms of said'elernents;v and further including manually controllable means whereby said slides can be adjnstedduring the operation of said elements, as and for the purpose disclosed.

49. Apparatus for removing ballast from beneath track rails in the cribs between ties, vcomprising a carriage movable' along the track', an

arm pivotally mounted on said carriage with capacity `to swing between theA ties in a plane arranged transversely of the rai-ls, a ballast displacing element mounted on said arm with oa'- pacity as said arm swings about its pivot toV pass beneath a i rail to dislodge ballast therefrom; spring means drivingly connected to said ballast moving element andv eil'ective` 'when loaded andv released to urge said ballast moving element toward said ballast, power means on said carriage, connecting means for connecting said power means to said arm to swing said 'arm aboutits pivot against the force of said' spring means, thereby retracting the ballast movingy element from the crib4 and: load-ing. said spring means, and release mechanism arranged with respect to said connecting means and said armi to disconnect suddenly said power means .from said arm, thereby suddenly releasing the spring Amea-ris causing it to drive said ballast moving element beneath the rail against the ballast in thecrib with'a force sufficient to dislodge the ballast and move it out beyond the raih 10. In apparatus for removing' ballast from vbeneath track rails in the-cribs betweeny ties, a carriage shiftable along the track, ballast dislodging elements supported on the carriageV4 for swinging movement laterally thereof and adapted to be thrust beneathl the rails to dislodge `the ballast, a rock shaft, mechanical means throughA which the ballast dislodging elements are connected to the rock shaft for actuation, spring means attached to said rock shaft, said spring means continuously urging the rock shaft to turn aboutv its axis in one direction, power driven`V mechanical means travelling in a continuous path on said carriage, and a motion transmitting linkage fixed to said Arock shaft and normally disposed in apart only Vof said kcontinuous path, the power driven mechanical means. thereby periodically contacting said motion transmitting linkage causing it to turn the rock shaft in opposition to theforce of the spring means, and said power driven mechanical means also periodically suddenly releasing said motion transmitting linkage,

8 x rendering the spring means suddenly operative to actuate the ballast dislodging elements.`

11. In apparatus for removing ballast from beneath track rails in the cribs between ties, a carriage shiftable along the track, arms supported on the carriage for swinging movementlaterally thereof, ballast dislodging elements on said arms, said ballast dislodging elements having blade" projections at their lower ends adapted 'to be thrust beneath the rails to dislodge the ballast; and mechanism including a rock shaft, means through which the ballast dislodging elements are connected to the rock shaft for actu'- ation, spring means yieldably urgedl against said rock shaft to induce said rock shaft to turnin a ii'rst direction about its axis, an arm affixed to said rock shaft, rotary means with an eccentric thereon, said eccentric being positioned to engage said arm during a part of each revolution of the rotary means to turn the rock shaft in the direction opposite said rst direction for retraction of the ballast dislodging elements and winding the spring, and said eccentric also being positioned to disengage said arm suddenly during another part of each revolution, suddenlyv releasing said spring means to turn the rock shaft suddenly in said first direction for impartation of a kick impulse to said dislodging elements.

12. Apparatus for removing ballast from beneath track rails in the cribsl between ties, comprising. a carriage movable alongv the track, a swinging arm pivotally mounted on said carriage with capacity to swing transversely of saidy rails,

. an extension arm mounted on said swinging arm with capacity to move lengthwise thereof, a ballast moving element on said extension arm. power opera-ted means drivinglyconnected to said swinging arm and effective to oscillate said swinging arm about its pivot, thereby alternately driving said ballast moving element against the ballast below the track rail and retracting the ballast moving element therefrom, a mechanical linkage attached to said extensiony arm and operable from the carriage to adjust the extension arm` lengthwise of said swinging arm-to shift the ballast moving element toward and away from said pivot as the swinging Varm movesy about said pivot, thereby adjusting the ballast moving element to Contact ballast at different depths, and resilient means continuously urged against said mechanical linkage with a force sufficient when unopposed to retract said ballast moving element toward said pivot.

13. Ballast dislodging mechanism for removing ballast from beneath a track rail in thexcrib b'etween ties comprising a supportV movable along the track, a ballast kicking tool having' a ballast dislodging blade yelement swingably carried by said support with capacity for swinging `movement laterally of the rails and downwardly beneath the rail between the ties to dislodge the ballast and removey it from under the rail, resilient reactive drive means carried by Asaidsupport and connected to urge said kicking. tool and blade element to swing toward said ballast, said resilient drive .means having capacity when loaded and released to drive said blade element sharply into the ballast, retracting means. with power drive means also carriedy by said support, connecting means between the retracting means and vkicking kdevice including mechanical means periodically establishing a positive mechanical connection between the power means andy kicking tool with capacity `to withdraw the blade ele ment positively from the ballastl against Ithe force exerted by said resilient drive means, and concurrently to load said resilient reactive drive means, and said connecting means also including release mechanism arranged with respect to said kicking tool and said retracting means to disconnect suddenly said kicking tool from said retracting means, thereby freeing the resilient drive means causing it to drive the kicking tool blade element into the ballast.

14. The ballast dislodging mechanism defined in claim 13 wherein the ballast kicking tool includes a pivotally mounted extensible arm on which said blade element is carried, and wherein means are provided for extending said arm While it is moving, whereby the ballast may be re- 10 moved to successive depths with successive strokes of the blade element.

JOSEPH MICKLE' FOX. CLARENCE JOHN REIGH.

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